Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim signed an extension Sunday that will run beyond the 2017-18 campaign, just hours after coach-in-waiting Mike Hopkins left to take the Washington job.

"Mike accepting the position at Washington has put us in a unique position," Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said in a statement released by the school. "The circumstances are different now than they were when he was named head-coach-in-waiting."

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Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins, the expected eventual successor to Jim Boeheim, has instead become the next head coach at Washington, replacing Lorenzo Romar.

It was previously announced that Boeheim would coach through the 2017-18 season, but he had been noncommittal about it this past year. Syracuse did not announce the length of his extension.

One of the reasons Hopkins left, sources told ESPN, was to relieve Boeheim of the pressure of having to retire. Hopkins had a contract that stated he was set to take over after the 2017-18 season.

Wildhack told ESPN's Jeff Goodman that he found out about Hopkins leaving for Washington mid-afternoon on Saturday.

"There was a signed contract in place for Mike to assume the head coaching position after next year -- and one in place for Jim's deal to expire," Wildhack said.

Wildhack said he went to Boeheim after Hopkins told him he was leaving.

"Once I knew Mike was leaving, there was a head coaching vacancy after next year," he said. "I wanted to get the best person to fill it, and decided Jim was the best person. That was my recommendation to the chancellor. I wanted to move fast, to make sure there was continuity in place."

Boeheim has been the head coach at Syracuse for 41 years and has taken the Orange to the NCAA tourney 32 times. The Orange went to the NIT this postseason.

Syracuse also announced that Adrian Autry has been promoted to lead assistant.